West Coast’s four-game winning streak came to an end at the hands of Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Saturday.
The Lions led from start to finish, eventually running out 15.9 (99) to 4.7 (31) winners.
Hamish Brayshaw led the Eagles’ midfield with 25 disposals, while defender Josh Rotham collected 19 disposals and took 10 marks.
Lachlan Delahunty was the Lions’ best with 31 disposals, while Ben Sokol booted four goals up forward.
Subiaco dominated the opening term, recording 15 inside 50s as the Eagles’ defence struggled to withstand the onslaught.
Goals to Sokol, Ryan Borchet and Thomas Edwards-Lee helped the Lions to a 19-point lead at the first break.
Back-to-back goals from Max Walters and Travis Cleggett gave the Lions a 32-point lead early in the second term, before Kieran Hug got West Coast on the board with an impressive left-foot snap from the boundary.
However, a late major from Daniel Leach gave the Lions momentum as the home side took an imposing 41-8 lead at half-time.
Subiaco continued to increase its lead in the second half.
Fraser McInnes was the Eagles’ lone goalkicker for the third term as the Lions piled on another four majors to amass a 48-point lead at three quarter time.
Nathan Vardy kicked West Coast’s third goal of the game to start the final term, before Jarrod Brander converted from 40 metres out to cut the margin back to six goals.
From there the Lions slotted the last five goals of the game to run out 68-point winners.
Despite the result, West Coast is still in the finals race as it enters the final month of the season sitting just one game outside the top-five.
Defender Luke Foley said the Lions set the tone early with their pressure around the contest.
“It was pretty heated early; it felt like the ball was just coming in and out and we just couldn’t get enough possession,” Foley said.
“We brought it back a bit in that second half but they put their foot down in those last 15 minutes and we just crumbled a bit.”
Foley said the team was eager to bounce back against Swan Districts next week.
“We’re certainly in the mix for finals, so with just four games left we’ll certainly be looking to give ourselves every opportunity to get there,” he said.
